Thank you Germany: Part 057: Hardly any other language creates so many new words

The German language is a very special language in many respects. Languages are brought to life by the fact that they have not only been spoken by people as their mother tongue for many centuries. The ability of a language to renew itself also contributes to it being particularly lively. German is particularly capable of renewal. New words are formed every year. These new words are known as neologisms.

Youth language, as well as certain dialects, the language styles of certain groups, loan words from English and specialised words from a certain subject area are constantly inspiring new words. Some of these words are even included in the Duden dictionary and accepted as standard language. For example, the word google has found its way into the dictionary and many other neologisms have also been incorporated into the standard German vocabulary in recent years. Even mobile phone - a word that does not even exist in English - is now firmly established in Germany. Youth language is particularly active in the renewal of the language. This is also due to the fact that young people want to set themselves apart from the adult world with a special language.

Young people in Germany have always succeeded in doing this with youth language. Some of the neologisms only live for a few years and then disappear again. Other neologisms manage to establish themselves as an integral part of the language. In this case, they are no longer only used by young people, but are also taken up by many adults. While some people are sceptical about the new word creations, others see them as an advantage. And in fact, the many new words that appear in German every year are not a disadvantage. They just show how much can be done with the German language.

The new words not only describe certain devices that did not exist before. They also ensure that people can express their own view of the world particularly well. Each word casts a certain perspective on the world. The more words a language has and the more people it provides with new words, the more diverse these perspectives become. In this sense, the many new words in Germany also demonstrate the diversity of perspectives that exist in Germany. Germany is not a country with a one-sided dominant culture. It is a country with many different people and many different perspectives on life. These many perspectives enrich both the language and the culture. This is why Germany is held in such high regard by writers and other artists all over the world.

Linguists are also particularly pleased with the vitality of the German language. It constantly provides scientists with new research opportunities. It also allows the population to find new ways of expressing themselves. Not all reservations about new word creations are therefore justified. They do not always symbolise a decline in language, as the critics of youth language believe. They can also symbolise the very special quality of the language in the country. And you simply have to love Germany for this quality. You can experience a variety of perspectives on the world here.